Posted on 11/21/2011 11:48:55 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Rick Perry followed his best debate performance with one of his best speeches on the campaign trail in Iowa. The GOP presidential candidate delivered the keynote address at the Scott County GOP’s Third Annual Reagan Dinner.
Perry provided a preview of a new policy proposal that he will reveal today. “I’m going to unveil a plan to uproot all three branches of government and overhaul Washington,” Perry said. “It touches every branch of Washington.”
One part of the plan that should hit home with many Iowa caucus goers is Perry’s ideas for the judiciary. “I’m going to address lifetime federal judges who arrogantly re-write our laws from the bench.”
Perry also reminded the crowd of his social conservative credentials. “When it comes to protecting life, I offer more than just pro-life rhetoric,” the Texas governor said. “I’ve got a pro-life record.” Perry also mentioned that his state defined marriage as between one man and one woman in its constitution.
During Perry’s tenure, Texas also passed a law requiring voters to show a photo ID. Secretary of State Matt Schultz, who was in attendance, has been the leading advocate for such a law in Iowa. “Keep fighting,” Perry implored Schultz. “You’re on the right track, brother.”
Jean Hess of Davenport was among the attendees who were impressed with Perry’s speech. “I thought it was very good,” she said. “I think he had some great comments. I think he brought up some good points about his record, being pro-life, marriage between one man one woman and the voter ID law.” Hess says she remains undecided on who she will vote for on January 3, but Perry is her frontrunner for now.
An estimated 300 attendees paid $50 each to attend the event in Bettendorf. Scott County will play a very important role in the Iowa Caucus, which is just 49 days away. There are more than 32,500 registered Republicans there. The candidate who wins the Quad Cities area greatly helps his chances of winning Iowa.
Rick Perry worked the room prior to and during the dinner, visiting different tables and chatting with attendees. The former GOP frontrunner continued to display the self-deprecating humor that helped ease the blowback from his well-documented brain freeze in last Wednesday’s debate.
As congressional candidate Scott Batcher was addressing the crowd, he discussed federal agencies that he would like to cut, mentioning the EPA, education, and then pausing and looking at Perry before saying “energy”. Perry chuckled, then got up to high-five Batcher as the crowd burst into laughter and applause. The Department of Energy was the one Perry could not recall last week.
During Perry’s speech, while criticizing Washington bureaucrats, he again poked fun at himself. “They think the answer to every problem is add a new agency to government. And I can remember most of them.”
The crowd was appreciative of Perry’s sense of humor. “He’s handled it probably the only way he could have handled it,” said Davenport Alderman Bill Edmond. “I think he’s done very well.”
Judging from Perry’s speech, it appears that his new strategy is to project himself as a Washington reformer. “I’m running not to appease the Washington establishment, but to dismantle it.”
Perry struck all the right chords with the Quad Cities audience. “I thought it was good,” said attendee Jim Goff. “I thought he got to his points quickly. He didn’t mince words. I’d be comfortable with him in the White House.”
If Rick Perry is able to effectively sell his “reformer” strategy, it’s possible he can regain some of the momentum he lost in the last two months.
Other Notes from the Scott County GOP’s 3rd Annual Reagan Dinner
–Only three presidential campaigns sent staff to the event. Along with Perry’s, representatives for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum were in attendance
–Three congressional hopefuls spoke to the crowd. John Archer, Scott Batcher and Dan Dolan are competing for the chance to take on Dave Loebsack in Iowa’s newly designed second district next year.
Archer’s speech touched on several conservative “red meat” topics like repealing ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank. He also told the crowd he is a fiscal and social conservative. Archer was the only one of the three to mention social issues. He also worked in a plug for Strong America Now, which was represented at the event by Polk County GOP co-chair Dave Funk.
Batcher’s speech focused heavily on eliminated fraud and waste in the federal government. Dolan spent much of his time paying tribute to Ronald Reagan and said his top priority would be creating jobs.
–During the dinner, the Scott County GOP showed an excellent Ronald Reagan tribute, narrated by Fred Thompson. This was something that the Iowa GOP bungled in Des Moines when they did not show their tribute tape until after dismissing the crowd.
–This was the 3rd Annual Ronald Reagan Dinner for the Scott County GOP and Secretary of State Matt Schultz has attended all three. That’s a long drive from Council Bluffs.
–Emcee Brian Kennedy referred to Scott County as a “the swing county in a swing state”. Matt Schultz declared, “Scott County’s not a swing county, it’s a Republican county. Thanks to all of you and your hard work.” Democrats still hold a voter advantage here, but the GOP continues to close the gap.
Hannity’s 3rd Freedom Concert - Perry on America heroes! 7 minute video
Nov. 11, 2011 VIDEO: Rick Perry interview Nov 11, 2011 in Columbia 25 minute video – starting around 4:00 – 12:00 Perry speaks at length about Iran, allies and national defense.
Perry: Uproot and Overhaul Washington
Then he goes to a debate...
Then he goes to a debate...
Then he goes to a debate...
“Then he goes to a debate”
And...?
Wouldn’t you rather not be led around by others’ agenda?
Perry himself says it isn’t his strong suit, however, in each debate he had some good moments and then a glitch, which was focused on to the exclusion of everything else.
In the last debate, the glitch was missing, it was all good, therefore you heard little about it.
Pity.
But we here who wanted to know, about the last debate, and about his speeches and interviews and his plans to take a “wrecking ball” to the DC establishment, were able to find out.
And so can every other red blooded Conservative American...
Here. Have some flowers and snap out of it.
As Senator Byrd would’ve said...
“Pretty, pretty, pretty.”
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Per SD
This is just how Rick Perry is. After Hurricane Ike devastated my community, he came here to survey the damage. He did not just walk through here surrounded by security and news cameras and then make a speech. That's not Perry. He showed up in jeans and a work shirt, no cameras, no press conference, and he walked among all of us who had been hit. A hug, a pat on the shoulder, a listening ear, and an encouraging word. He saw to it that emergency shelters were being set up and food and water were available to everyone. When Obama/FEMA refused to help us, Governor Perry set up state funding to help us rebuild our homes and our lives. My home is at 'ground zero' where Ike came ashore. We all took tremendous damage. FEMA sent me a check two months later for $600 dollars. Governor Perry set up the Recovery Fund to help us all rebuild. That is what a true leader and a true Christian does. That's my Governor! I can't wait to see America under the caring wing of Rick Perry.
“I’m going to unveil a plan to uproot all three branches of government and overhaul Washington,”
He can’t do that so shouldn’t have said it. He’s got some stock statements now to gain attention to try to get his numbers up, but can’t deliver on those statements.
If he became the candidate, Obama would take those statements apart and Perry would be holding an empty bag in front of the nation. In other words, what he says now is fair game for Obama later on. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
Obama never revealed a specific plan...He was all about ‘hope & change’, smoke & mirrors!.
In 2012, I think most voters will be looking for the ‘beef’!
People have told me they like these: Criminalize ‘insider trading’; make Congress a ‘partime job’, remove job killing regulations...and more are here: http://wwwRickPerry.com
Take a look.....you might like some!
The “conscience of the Senate” did love his little dog Billy. =^D
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